Substance source

ABSTRACT

A source of gaseous, gas borne or droplet substance having: an inner pressurised container (1), a substance-release valve (2) device sealed across an end of the container (1), a spout (4) displaceable inwards of the container (1) against a spring of the valve (2) device for substance release; the source also includes: an outer enclosure enclosing the inner container along its length (12), at least partially its end (14) remote from the spout (4) and partially at its spout end (19), the outer enclosure ADN the inner container (1) being arranged to react force for displacement of the spout (4) on substance release; a counter (20) accommodated within the outer enclosure for counting substance release displacements of the spout (4); and a window (22) in the outer enclosure for viewing the count of the counter (20).

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/667,957(published as U.S. 2008-0135576A1), filed May 17, 2007 (pending), whichis a U.S. national phase of International Application PCT/GB2005/004430,filed 17 Nov. 2005, which designated the U.S. and claims priority of GB0425518.8, filed 19 Nov. 2004, the entire contents of each of which arehereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to provided a source of a gaseous, gasborne or droplet substance.

Such sources are used for dispensing medicaments in metered doses via adispenser. There is an increasing desire for the number of dosesdispensed and/or left in the source to be counted, so that a user canknow the number of doses remaining before a fresh source (and dispenser)is required.

The object of the present invention is to provide a substance sourcewith an integral counter.

THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a sourceof a gaseous, gas borne or droplet substance having:

-   -   an inner pressurised container,    -   a substance-release valve device sealed across an end of the        container,    -   a spout displaceable inwards of the container against a spring        of the valve device for substance release,        the source also including:    -   an outer enclosure enclosing the inner container along its        length, at least partially across its end remote from the spout        and partially at its spout end,        -   the outer enclosure and the inner container being arranged            to react force for displacement of the spout on substance            release;    -   a counter accommodated within the outer enclosure for counting        substance release displacements of the spout; and    -   a window in the outer enclosure for viewing the count of the        counter.

In certain embodiments, the counter is arranged at the end of the outerenclosure, for reacting and counting occurrences of spout-displacementforce from the inner container to the outer enclosure. In particularwhere the substance is a high value medicament, the counter can be asingle use electronic counter. However, since an electronic counter is arelatively expensive component of a medicament source, in the preferredembodiment with such a counter, it can be a multi-use electroniccounter, with the outer enclosure being provided with a frangibleenclosure for the counter, whereby the counter can be removed from themedicament source by breaking the enclosure when it is has reached itsnormal dose count limit, reset and installed on a fresh source using itsfresh frangible closure. In this case, the counter provides the soleabutment for the inner container as regards spout-displacement force,whereby residual medicament cannot be used once the counter has beenremoved.

Again, the counter can be a removable or an irremovable mechanicalcounter. The mechanical counter can include a dual set of ratchet teethand pawls, with angular incrementation determined by the ratchet teethand can be housed within the outer enclosure and gearing is providedbetween an incremented ratchet disc and an indicator disc viewablethrough the window in the outer enclosure. This avoids unreliable dosingwith the container being nearly empty.

In other embodiments, the counter is arranged to be incremented bydisplacement of the spout. Normally such a counter will be a mechanicalcounter including a rotatable member indexed by one increment on eachdisplacement of the spout.

Such a mechanical counter can include a dual set of ratchet teeth andpawls, one of either of the teeth and the pawls being displaced with thespout the other being fast with the outer enclosure and the rotatablemember being incremented partially by one of the dual set of teeth oninwards displacement of the spout and partially by the other of the dualset of teeth on return outwards displacement of the spout.

Alternatively, the mechanical counter can include a single set ofratchet teeth and at least one pawl and a frictional member restrainingthe rotatable member, one of either of the teeth and the pawls beingdisplaced with the spout the other being fast with the outer enclosureand the rotatable member being incremented by the pawl and teeth oninwards displacement of the spout and held by the frictional member onreturn outwards displacement of the spout.

In one of these embodiments:

-   -   the rotatable member is a portion of the inner pressurised        container or a sleeve fast with the container, the container or        the sleeve being adapted to be indexed by one increment on each        displacement of the spout,    -   the said portion or sleeve has a helical track,    -   the window extends axially and/or circumferentially of the outer        enclosure and    -   the source includes an indicator adapted to co-operate with the        helical track for indicating movement along the extent of the        window.

Alternatively:

-   -   the rotatable member is a member internal of the outer        enclosure, extending around the inner container and having a        helical track,    -   the window extends axially and/or circumferentially of the outer        enclosure and    -   the source includes an indicator adapted to co-operate with the        helical track for indicating movement along the extent of the        window.

In this alternative, the indicator can have:

-   -   a curved inner face engaging the rotatable member, both at the        track for movement of the indicator and laterally for location        of the indicator and    -   a flat outer face engaging the window with lateral extent for        locating the indicator in the window circumferentially of the        outer enclosure.

Again the indicator can have:

-   -   a plain inner face engaging the helical track,    -   a sprung outer face engaging the window and    -   sides for locating the indicator in the window circumferentially        of outer enclosure and        the window is provided at a groove with sides co-operating with        the sides of the indicator in locating the indicator        circumferentially of the outer enclosure.

Thirdly, the indicator and the outer enclosure can have a complementarynon-circular cross-section for locating the indicator in the windowcircumferentially of the outer enclosure.

It is possible for one of the sets of teeth and pawl(s) or thefrictional member, whichever is provided, is arranged at the end of theinner member having the helical track remote from the spout andco-operates with the end of the outer enclosure on incrementing of theinner member. However, usually, both sets of teeth and pawls areprovided at the spout end of the outer enclosure.

The member having the helical track can essentially comprise the helicaltrack along the extent of the track and around the inner container andis resilient for movement of its spout end with the spout. However,usually, the member having the helical track comprises a circularcylindrical member around the inner container. The helical track itselfcan be a channel or groove in the cylindrical member. Alternatively, thehelical track can be a rib or ridge on the cylindrical member.

In another feature, the member having the helical track, the indicatorand the window are all adapted for plunging movement of the member andthe indicator with the spout, a return spring being provided for returnmovement on outwards movement of the member and indicator after inwards,dispensing movement. Alternatively, the member having the helical trackis axially located with respect to the outer enclosure and a separatemember plungeable with respect to the outer enclosure is provided, theplungeable member being adapted for driving the helical track member inrotation.

Preferably, wherein the plungeable member is provided with:

-   -   means for irrotationally locating it with respect to the outer        enclosure and    -   ones of the pawls or the teeth for rotationally driving the        helical track member, the others of the teeth or the pawls being        provided on the helical track member.        In this case, the pawls can be resilient axially of the helical        track member for return of the plungeable member.

Alternatively the plungeable member can be provided with:

-   -   the ones of the pawls or the teeth for rotationally driving the        plungeable member, the outer enclosure being provided with the        others of the teeth or the pawls,    -   a plungeable connection with the helical track member for        rotation thereof and    -   a return spring for return movement of the plungeable member on        outwards movement of the spout after inwards, dispensing        movement.

Again, the helix of the helical track can be regular. Alternatively thehelix of the helical track can be less steep in its portion occupied bythe indicator on initial use of the source and steeper in its portionindicating imminent exhaustion of the source.

In accordance with an importance feature, the source includes an end capof the outer enclosure at its end remote from the spout, the end capbeing connected to an outer sleeve of the enclosure, at a position suchthat dispensing operation of the spout and incrementing operation of thecounter are synchronised.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided asource of a gaseous, gas borne or droplet substance an inner subassemblyand an outer subassembly,

-   -   the inner subassembly having:        -   an inner pressurised container,        -   a substance-release valve device sealed across an end of the            container,        -   a spout displaceable inwards of the container against a            spring of the valve device for substance release,            -   the inner subassembly having an overall length from the                distal end of the spout to the remote end of the                container, which length decreases on substance release                and having at least:                -   a first quiescent length and                -   a second length at which the valve is opened for                    substance release;    -   the outer subassembly having:        -   an outer enclosure at least partially enclosing the inner            container along its length,        -   an enclosure cap across the end of the enclosure remote from            the spout and at least partially at its spout end,            -   the enclosure cap and the inner container being arranged                to react force for displacement of the spout on                substance release;        -   a counter accommodated within the outer enclosure for            counting substance release displacements of the spout; and        -   a counter actuation member arranged beside the spout for            displacement inwards to increment the counter            -   the outer subassembly having an overall length from the                actuation member at the spout to a pressurised-container                reaction surface, which length decreases on substance                release and having at least:                -   a first quiescent length and                -   a second length at which counter incrementation is                    initiated,    -   the subassembly also having:        -   a tolerance adjusted connection of the cap to the outer            enclosure set with respect to a use installation of the            source, whereby the stroke between the first and second            lengths of the respective assemblies is compensated for            synchronisation of substance release and count            incrementation.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided adispenser for a gaseous, gas borne or droplet substance, the dispensercomprising:

-   -   a source of the first or second aspect;    -   a mouth piece in connected to the outer enclosure;    -   a junction member receiving the spout of the source;    -   a nozzle connected to the junction member and arranged to direct        a dose of the substance out through the mouth piece; and

means for actuating the dispenser to dispense the dose and increment thecounter.

Normally the valve mechanism will be a metered dose valve mechanism.

DRAWINGS

To help understanding of the invention, a specific embodiment thereofwill now be described by way of example and with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially sectioned side view of a first medicament sourceaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top end view of the source of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a second source of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the source of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a third source of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the source of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a more detailed view of the mechanical counter of the thirdsource;

FIG. 8 is a s sectional view on the line VII-VII in FIG. 7 of theepicyclic gearbox of the counter of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is side partially sectioned side view of a fourth source of theinvention;

FIG. 10 is a plain side view of the fourth source;

FIG. 11 is a partially sectioned side view of a first variant of thefourth source;

FIG. 12 is a similar view of a second variant of the fourth source;

FIG. 13 is a side view of a fifth source of the invention;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional side view of the fifth source;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional plan view of the fifth source;

FIG. 16 is a scrap view of the teeth and pawls of the fifth source;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional side view of a sixth source;

FIG. 18 is a scrap view of a plunging connection the sixth source;

FIG. 19 is a side view of the sixth source;

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional side view of a dispenser of the inventionincorporating a source of the disclosure; and

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional plan view of the dispenser of FIG. 20.

FIRST PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the first embodiment, the medicament source shown in FIGS. 1 & 2 has:

-   -   an inner pressurised container 1 of stamped aluminium,    -   a substance-release valve device 2 sealed across an end of the        container by means of a crimp cap 3,    -   a spout 4 displaceable inwards of the container against a spring        23 of the valve device for release substance.        These features are conventional.

In accordance with the invention, the source also includes an outersleeve 11 enclosing the inner container along its length 12, across itsend 14 remote from the spout and at least partially at its spout end 15.Inthis embodiment, the sleeve also is of stamped aluminium, with acircularly cylindrical body 16, a closed end 17 and an open end 18 atwhich it has a turned-in rim 19, captivating the imler container in theouter sleeve by engagement under the crimp cap. Only the spout 4 extendsfrom the outer sleeve.

Between the end 14 of the inner container opposite from the spout 4 andthe end 17 of the outer sleeve is accommodated an electronic counter 20,of the type which increments or more precisely decrements each time acompressive force is applied across it. The counter per se is of a knowntype. It has a display 21 aligned with a window 22 in the end 17 of theouter sleeve.

In use, with the spout received in the junction member of an inhalerbody (not shown), pressure on the end 17 of the outer sleeve urges itand the inner container down, with the spout being pushed inwards andcausing the valve to release a dose through the junction member.

The force to actuate the valve is transmitted from the outer sleeve tothe inner container via the counter, which decrements its display. Thusthe user can monitor how many doses remain in the source by viewing thedisplay through the window 22.

SECOND EMBODIMENT

Turning now to a second embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 & 4, whilst theprevious embodiment is suitable for high value medicaments, it is notsuitable for low value medicaments where the counter may be the mostexpensive component including the medicament. In this embodiment, thecounter 101 is removable and equipped with a switch 102 which turns onthe counter only when pressed in and resets the counter in doing so.

Whereas the outer sleeve 103 of the first embodiment is of aluminium,that of the second embodiment is a two part plastics material moulding,suitably of polypropylene. It comprises a sleeve component 104 and anend cap component 105. They have complementary formations 106, 107 forclipping the cap onto the sleeve. The latter is circularly cylindrical,with a turned in lower rim 108 and internal formations 109 for clippinginto the crimp neck 6 of the inner container, which is identical to thatof the first embodiment—hence use of the same reference numerals in thisrespect. The formations discourage removal of the sleeve, but areprovided with clearance from the crimp neck, whereby actuation formedicament dispensing always results in dispensing force application tothe sleeve via the counter 101. The sleeve is of sufficient length todiscourage use of the source without the cap 105 fitted, in that the end14 of the inner container is not readily accessible through the open endof the sleeve.

With a counter 101 fitted in the open end and the cap 105 fitted, theend 14 of the inner container abuts against the counter and the counterabuts against the cap, at least on pressure on the cap for use of thesource. Fitting of the counter and cap has switched on the counter,whose display is visible through a window 110 in the cap. Pressing onthe cap 105 or indeed the counter via its window results in (1) forcebeing transmitted to the inner container for valve actuation and dosedispensing and (2) the dispensing act being counted.

The sleeve formation 106 has a groove on the outer surface of the sleeveand the cap formation 107 has an inwards-facing rim on tear-off, annularstrip 111. When the source is exhausted, the strip is torn off, thecounter removed for use with a new source and the rest of the source isdiscarded.

THIRD EMBODIMENT

Turning now a third embodiment, shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the outer sleeve203 is also a two part component, comprising a sleeve part 204 and a capwhich is longer to accommodate a mechanical counter 201, which is deeperthan its electronic counterpart. It has an inner-container engagementmember 2011, with a recess 2012 for tightly receiving the container end14 and three resilient pawl members 2013 which curve shallowly curvearound and away from the spout. They engage a rotary ratchet member 2014with oppositely directed ratchet teeth 2015, 2016 on its bottom and topfaces. The teeth 2015 are complementary to the pawl members 2013, whilstthe teeth 2016 are complementary to rigid pawl teeth 2017 on the cap205. It is anticipate that that the member 2011 will be held againstrotation by the spout 4 of the container 1; however, if need be it canbe splined to the sleeve part 204. Dispensing of a dose causes the pawlmembers to drive the ratchet member around with the teeth 2016, 2017riding over each other by one pitch. On release of the dispensing force,the pawl members maintain the engagement of the teeth 2016, 2017 intheir new position.

To allow a count of 200 doses requires a circle of 200 ratchet teeth.This is difficult to achieve with an inner container of 23 mm, a typicalsize, since the pitch of the teeth is:

23×3.14/200=0.36 mm.

In this embodiment the teeth are set at a greater pitch, but there areless of them. Their effect is modified by an epicyclic gearbox 2020.This comprises a sun wheel 2021 integral with the ratchet member 2014.It is arranged within an annular gear 2022 moulded integrally with thecap 205, with its teeth set inwards from the upper ratchet teeth 2016.Three planet wheels 2023 having central bores 2024 are arranged betweenthe sun wheel and the annular wheel. As the ratchet member and with itthe sun wheel is ratcheted around, the planet wheels roll around withit. With a comparatively small sun wheel, several turns of it arerequired for complete traverse of the planet wheels around the gearbox.A carrier 2025 has pins 2026 which extend down into the bores of theplanet wheels. On its top surface, the carrier has graduations visiblethrough a window 2027 in the end cap. Thus the number of dosesused/remaining can be determined by viewing the graduations, whichsuccessively pass the window.

FOURTH EMBODIMENT

Turning on now to the fourth embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10, the sourcethere shown has an outer sleeve 303 of aluminium, with a slot 330extending along the greater part of its length. Immediately within thesleeve is a secondary sleeve 331 with a helical groove 332. An indicator333 in the form of a disc with studs on either side engages with itsstuds in the slot and the groove. Thus as the secondary sleeve isturned, the indicator is moved along the slot. The helix is uneven,being steeper at the spout end of the outer sleeve, where initial dosesshow only small movement of the indicator, whereas dispensing of thefinal doses causes faster movement of the indicator.

The secondary sleeve is moved in a manner akin to the ratchet member ofthe preceding embodiment. At the spout end of the outer sleeve, it iscrimped onto a guide member 334 having three short longitudinal grooves335, which guide a yoke 336, having fingers 337 extending into thegrooves. The ends of the grooves are closed 338 to captivate the yoke.The upper ends of the grooves are closed by projections 339 that extendto the crimp cap of the inner container, locating it within the outersleeve. The yoke has a central bore 340 for the spout 4 and threeresilient pawl members 341, which are spaced between the projections339. The pawl members extend up to engage with teeth 342 provided on thebottom edge of the secondary sleeve. The top edge of this sleeve alsohas teeth 343, which co-operate with fixed pawl teeth 344 on a cap 345crimped to the outer sleeve.

In use, the source is mounted in a dispenser body (not shown except fora junction J), with the spout engaged in a junction member. Depressionof the source towards the junction member pushes the spout into thevalve and the yoke also towards the valve. The flexible pawls 341 arepermanently engaged with the lower teeth 342, whatever the position ofthe yoke, and as the yoke is urged in towards the inner container, thepawls foreshorten, rotating the secondary sleeve. The upper teeth areindexed across the fixed pawl teeth. As the source is allowed to returnafter dispensing its dose, the resilient pawls continue to urge thesecondary sleeve up against the fixed pawls, with the result that thesleeve is held against rotation. The resilient pawls ride over the lowerteeth, setting themselves for the next dispensing action. On successiveactions, the secondary sleeve moves progressively round, driving theindicator down the slot 330 as described above.

A first variant of the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11 hasdistinct similarities to the previous embodiments, save that thefunction of the helical groove in the secondary sleeve is performed by ahelical groove 432 impressed in the wall of the inner container. Thefunction of the upper teeth and the fixed pawls is performed by anelastomeric ring 444 pushed into an outer-sleeve cap 445. Then thefunction of the lower ratchet teeth is performed by teeth 442 impressedinto the crimp cap 3 of the inner container. The resilient pawls 441 acton the teeth 442, progressively rotating the inner container withrespect to the outer sleeve and driving an indicator 433 along a slot430 in the outer sleeve.

The second variant, shown in FIG. 12, differs in that the yoke 546 isrotatably carried on the spout. The yoke is fast with a helical member550, which is formed as a progressively tighter winding. It carries anindicator 533, co-operating with a slot 530 in an outer sleeve. Thehelical member abuts against the closed end of the outer sleeve, to urgethe yoke permanently downwards. The outer sleeve is crimped to a twopart yoke drive member 534. The two parts 5341,5342 have oppositelydirected ratchet teeth 5343,5344, with face each other in positions thatwould be interdigitated if they were not spaced from each other. Theyoke has a set of fingers 537 which are arranged between these teeth.

As the source is depressed and the spout is driven inwards, the yoke isurged inwards against the resilience of the helical member. The fingers537 slide along the faces of the upper teeth 5341 and rotate the helicalmember. As the spout is released, the fingers move back and engage thelower teeth 5342, further rotating the helical member. The result isthat the fingers come to rest indexed one by one pitch of the upperteeth—and indeed one pitch of the lower teeth—ready for the nextdepression of the spout.

In a non-illustrated embodiment, the moulded plastics material helix ofFIG. 12 can be replaced by a spring wire helix.

FIFTH EMBODIMENT

Turning now to the fifth embodiment, shown in FIGS. 13 to 16, the sourcethere shown has a pressurised container 1, with a spout 4. As shown, theupper part of the container is visible through an outer sleeve 611 oftransparent plastics material. This has a flat window 612, through whichan indicator 613 can be viewed. The indicator has a flat front face 614,which abuts the flat inside of the window. Rear face 615 of theindicator is curved to match the curvature of a helically grooved innermember 616. The indicator has a rear protrusion 617 into the groove 618.This arrangement not only connects the indicator to the groove, but alsoprevents the indicator from turning about the protrusion due to thecurvature of the rear face. Further, the indicator is restrained frommoving along the groove. Such movement would involve the front face 614moving out of alignment with the window. However, again the curved rearface restrains such movement.

The pitch of the groove 618 is small at the end of the inner memberremote from the spout, but increases at the spout end to alert the userthat a new source will shortly be required. The arrangement for indexingthe inner member 616 is a series of triangular teeth 619 moulded on theinside of the outer sleeve and a pair of oppositely directed flexiblepawl arms 620 with pawl elements 621 at their distal end moulded in acut out 622 in the inner member. A rigid pawl member 623 and a rigidlocator notch 624 are provided. In use, the pawl element on the spoutside of the teeth 619 makes initial contact with a tooth, followed bycontact by the pawl 623 with the neighbouring tooth. Continued movementof the inner brings a parallel portion of the rigid pawl between thesetwo teeth. One return movement, the other flexible pawl continues theindexing movement which is completed by the next tooth coming to rest inthe notch 624. This movement is initiated by a junction member, notshown, in which the spout 4 is received, abutting an in-turned rim 625of the inner member, whereby depression of the container 1 and with itthe outer sleeve 611 and its teeth 619 releases a dose from the spoutand performs the first part of the indexing as described. A returnspring 626 is provided between the rim 625 and the crimp cap 3 of thecontainer.

Other details of the source are that outer sleeve has a clipped on rim627 outside the inner rim 625 at the spout end. Further the sleeve hasan end cap 628 welded on at 629 to close the other end of the sleeve andlocate the container axially with respect to the sleeve. The relativeposition of the container and the sleeve are important, because thespout co-operates with elastomeric parts, the tolerance of whoseposition with respect to the cap 3 and the body of the container 1 isnot tight. The result is the possibility of the release of the dose notbeing synchronised with the incrementing of the counter. In other wordseither may occur without the other. This can be avoided by arranging therelative quiescent position of the spout and the rim such that oninwards movement of the stem to its release position, the inner memberis stroked to its indexing position. This is achieved by (1) measuringthe overall length of the container and spout in quiescent state fromthe spout's distal end to the container's remote end and (2) welding theend cap 628 to the sleeve with a consequently determined length betweenthe outer face of the rim 625 and outer face of the end cap with the rimnot yet fitted. The result is that with the spring 626 holding thecontainer 1 against the end cap 628 and the inner member against theteeth 619, both at the notch 624 and other corresponding abutments 630around the member 616, the spout protrudes with a determined amount fromthe rim 625. Synchronisation of dose release and indexing are thusachieved.

SIXTH EMBODIMENT

The sixth embodiment of FIGS. 17 to 19 differs in a few but significantdetails. Its inner member 716 is axially located with respect to theouter sleeve 711 by means of a bead 751 on the inner member engaging ina groove 752 in the outer sleeve. A plunging extension 753 of the innermember, having its rim 725 with the spout 4 passing through it and theinner members pawls (not shown), has fingers 754 in plunging mesh withfingers 755 on the inner member 716. Thus dispensing action plunges theextension 753 only with respect to the outer sleeve 711 without plungingof the marker as occurs in the fifth embodiment.

The marker 756 is guided in a helical channel 757 extending both alongand around the outer sleeve, providing enhanced opportunity of accurategraduation (not shown). It has a pip (not shown) on its back side andtwo fingers 758, which are resilient a extend outwards when free, whichurge the marker into engagement with the helical channel. It has acentral mark 759

SEVENTH EMBODIMENT

The seventh embodiment of FIGS. 20 & 21 differs in that the sourceintegrally includes a mouthpiece 801 and an actuation button 802,including a junction 803 receiving the spout 4 and having a nozzle 804directed out of the mouth piece. FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional side viewof a dispenser of the invention, including elements 801, 802, 803, 804,811, 816 and 856, incorporating a source of the disclosure.

The mouthpiece is moulded in a piece 805 fitted in place of the clippedon rim 627 of the fifth embodiment. The moulding 805 has an aperture 806in which the button 802 is received.

A further difference is that whilst the inner member 816 is circularlycylindrical, the outer sleeve 811 is non-circular. The marker 856 isformed as a stirrup around the inner member and is restrained frommoving around it by having a shape complementary to the outer sleeve.

I claim:
 1. A dispenser for a gaseous, gas borne or droplet substance,the dispenser comprising: a container of a gaseous, gas borne or dropletsubstance having: an inner pressurised container for the substance, asubstance-release valve device sealed across an end of the innerpressurized container and having a spring, a spout at a spout end of theinner pressurized container, which is displaceable inwards of the innerpressurized container against the spring of the valve device forsubstance release, the container also including: an outer enclosureenclosing the inner pressurized container along its length, at leastpartially across its end remote from the spout and partially at itsspout end, the outer enclosure and the inner pressurized container beingarranged to be capable of reacting to cause displacement of the spoutinwards of the inner pressurized container for substance release; acounter accommodated within the outer enclosure for counting substancerelease displacements of the spout; a window in the outer enclosure forviewing the count of the counter; a mouth piece; a junction memberreceiving the spout of the source; a nozzle connected to the junctionmember and arranged to direct a dose of the substance out through themouth piece; and means for actuating the dispenser to dispense the doseand increment the counter.
 2. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe counter is arranged at an end of the outer enclosure, fortransmitting spout-displacement force between the inner container andthe outer enclosure and counting occurrences of such force.
 3. Adispenser as claimed in claim 2, wherein the counter is a single-use ormulti-use electronic counter.
 4. A dispenser as claimed in claim 2,wherein the counter is a removable or irremovable mechanical counter. 5.A dispenser as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mechanical counterincludes a dual set of ratchet teeth and pawls, with angularincrementation determined by the ratchet teeth.
 6. A dispenser asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the counter is arranged to be incremented ondisplacement of the spout, and the counter includes a rotatable memberindexed by one increment on each displacement of the spout.
 7. Adispenser as claimed in claim 6, wherein the mechanical counter includesa dual set of ratchet teeth and pawls, one of either of the teeth andthe pawls being displaced with the spout the other being fast with theouter enclosure and the rotatable member being incremented partially byone of the dual set of teeth on inwards displacement of the spout andpartially by the other of the dual set of teeth on return outwardsdisplacement of the spout, or a single set of ratchet teeth and at leastone pawl and a frictional member restraining the rotatable member, oneof either of the teeth and the pawls being displaced with the spout theother being fast with the outer enclosure and the rotatable member beingincremented by the pawl and teeth on inwards displacement of the spoutand held by the frictional member on return outwards displacement of thespout.
 8. A dispenser as claimed in claim 6, wherein: the rotatablemember is a portion of the inner pressurised container or a sleeve fastwith the container, the container or the sleeve being adapted to beindexed by one increment on each displacement of the spout, or therotatable member is a member internal of the outer enclosure, extendingaround the inner pressurized container, the rotatable member having ahelical track, the window extending axially and/or circumferentially ofthe outer enclosure, and the container includes an indicator adapted toco-operate with the helical track which operates as an indicator bymovement along the window.
 9. A dispenser as claimed in claim 8, whereinthe rotatable member has a curved surface; and the indicator: engagesthe helical track for movement of the indicator, and has a curved innerface engaging the rotatable member at the helical track for location ofthe indicator circumferentially of the rotatable member, and a flatouter face engaging the window for locating the indicator at the windowcircumferentially of the outer enclosure.
 10. A dispenser as claimed inclaim 8, wherein the indicator and the outer enclosure have acomplementary non-circular cross-section for locating the indicator inthe window circumferentially of the outer enclosure.
 11. A dispenser asclaimed in claim 7, wherein one of the sets of teeth and pawl(s) or thefrictional member, whichever is provided, is arranged at the end of therotatable member having the helical track remote from the spout andco-operates with the end of the outer enclosure on incrementing of therotatable member.
 12. A dispenser as claimed in claim 8, wherein therotatable member having the helical track comprises a circularcylindrical member around the inner pressurized container and thehelical track is a channel or groove in the cylindrical member or a ribor ridge on the cylindrical member.
 13. A dispenser as claimed in claim12, wherein the rotatable member having the helical track, the indicatorand the window are all adapted for plunging movement of the member andthe indicator with the spout, a return spring being provided for returnmovement on outwards movement of the member and indicator after inwards,dispensing movement.
 14. A dispenser as claimed in claim 13, wherein therotatable member having the helical track is axially located withrespect to the outer enclosure and a separate member plungeable withrespect to the outer enclosure is provided, the plungeable member beingadapted for driving the helical track member in rotation.
 15. Adispenser as claimed in claim 12, wherein the plungeable member isprovided with: means for irrotationally locating it with respect to theouter enclosure; and pawls or teeth for rotationally driving therotatable member; cooperating teeth or pawls respectively being providedon the rotatable member having the helical track.
 16. A dispenser asclaimed in claim 8, wherein the helix of the helical track is regular,or the helix of the helical track is less steep in its portion occupiedby the indicator on initial use of the source and steeper in its portionindicating imminent exhaustion of the container.
 17. A dispenser asclaimed in claim 1, including an end cap of the outer enclosure at itsend remote from the spout, the end cap being connected to an outersleeve of the enclosure, at a position such that dispensing operation ofthe spout and incrementing operation of the counter are synchronised.